IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2020i1p258-d470342.html

Plastics Recycling with Tracer-Based-Sorting: Challenges of a Potential Radical Technology

Author

Listed:
  • Johannes Gasde

    (Institute for Industrial Ecology (INEC), Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, Tiefenbronner Str. 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany)

  • Jörg Woidasky

    (Institute for Industrial Ecology (INEC), Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, Tiefenbronner Str. 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany)

  • Jochen Moesslein

    (Polysecure GmbH, Sankt-Georgener Str. 19, Geb. 23, 79111 Freiburg, Germany)

  • Claus Lang-Koetz

    (Institute for Industrial Ecology (INEC), Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, Tiefenbronner Str. 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany)

Abstract

To improve the recycling quality of plastics packaging and achieve high recycling rates new identification and sorting technologies are required. Tracer-based-sorting (TBS) is an innovative identification technology based on fluorescent tracers and a corresponding detection unit. TBS can be considered a radical technology change towards a circular economy for plastics and to support sustainability as it has the potential to render several established sorting and/or recycling steps obsolete. This article shows which drivers and barriers are perceived by stakeholders with regard to the implementation of TBS in the market and how challenges are addressed responsibly in the early phases of the innovation process. Influencing external factors and framework conditions of TBS are identified and suitable business models for TBS in a circular economy are discussed. Further, practical recommendations on how to optimize technology and market development for TBS are provided. To obtain these results a mixed method approach of integrated innovation and sustainability analysis, external environment analysis (PESTEL analysis), and business model development approaches was chosen. The research results can be understood as a practical contribution towards a responsible and sustainable implementation of a radical technology-based innovation for a circular economy of plastics.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Gasde & Jörg Woidasky & Jochen Moesslein & Claus Lang-Koetz, 2020. "Plastics Recycling with Tracer-Based-Sorting: Challenges of a Potential Radical Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2020:i:1:p:258-:d:470342
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/1/258/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/1/258/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Domenech, Teresa & Bahn-Walkowiak, Bettina, 2019. "Transition Towards a Resource Efficient Circular Economy in Europe: Policy Lessons From the EU and the Member States," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 7-19.
    2. Tatiene Coelho & Rosani Castro & Jose Alcides Gobbo Junior, 2012. "PET Containers in Brazil: A Logistics Model for Post-Consumer Waste Recycling," Chapters, in: Enri Damanhuri (ed.), Post-Consumer Waste Recycling and Optimal Production, IntechOpen.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andreza Rodrigues de Araujo & Rodrigo Marques de Almeida Guerra & David Lorenzi Junior & Jordana Marques Kneipp & Luísa Margarida Cagica Carvalho, 2026. "Circular and Sustainable Business Model Innovation: Formulating an Integrated Concept Through A Systematic Literature Review," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-30, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bruno Michel Roman Pais Seles & Janaina Mascarenhas & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour & Adriana Hoffman Trevisan, 2022. "Smoothing the circular economy transition: The role of resources and capabilities enablers," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1814-1837, May.
    2. Risa Arai & Martin Calisto Friant & Walter J. V. Vermeulen, 2024. "The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 619-650, March.
    3. Regmi, Rupesh & Zhang, Zhuo & Zhang, Hongpeng, 2023. "Entrepreneurship strategy, natural resources management and sustainable performance: A study of an emerging market," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    4. Buket Erzen & Şermin Deni̇z & Ercan Aydoğmuş & Filiz Kar & Hasan Arslanoğlu, 2026. "Integrating Life Cycle Thinking and Extended Producer Responsibility into Industrial Symbiosis: A Review of Circular Economy Approaches," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-59, April.
    5. Leonidas Milios, 2021. "Towards a Circular Economy Taxation Framework: Expectations and Challenges of Implementation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 477-498, September.
    6. Cristina Macci & Francesca Vannucchi & Eleonora Peruzzi & Serena Doni & Stefano Lucchetti & Karel Waska & Monika Heřmánková & Roberto Scodellini & Alessandra Cincinelli & Francesco Paolo Nicese & Lapo, 2025. "A low impact sediment and green waste co-compost: can it replace peat in the nursery sector?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 10761-10788, May.
    7. J. Brusselaers & J. Gillabel, 2024. "How Circular Is the European Policy Landscape?," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 1559-1585, June.
    8. Yeo, Lip Siang & Teng, Sin Yong & Ng, Wendy Pei Qin & Lim, Chun Hsion & Leong, Wei Dong & Lam, Hon Loong & Wong, Yat Choy & Sunarso, Jaka & How, Bing Shen, 2022. "Sequential optimization of process and supply chains considering re-refineries for oil and gas circularity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    9. Kang, DongHo & Auras, Rafael & Singh, Jay, 2017. "Life cycle assessment of non-alcoholic single-serve polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottles in the state of California," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 45-52.
    10. Joanicjusz Nazarko & Ewa Chodakowska & Łukasz Nazarko, 2022. "Evaluating the Transition of the European Union Member States towards a Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, May.
    11. Andrea Molocchi, 2021. "Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability: A Policy Coherence Analysis of Current Italian Subsidies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-38, July.
    12. Hosoda, Takamichi & Disney, Stephen M., 2018. "A unified theory of the dynamics of closed-loop supply chains," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(1), pages 313-326.
    13. Magnus Sparrevik & Luitzen Boer & Ottar Michelsen & Christofer Skaar & Haley Knudson & Annik Magerholm Fet, 2021. "Circular economy in the construction sector: advancing environmental performance through systemic and holistic thinking," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 392-400, September.
    14. Pracheta Tejasmayee & Bhakti Agarwal & Shailesh Rastogi & Rohini Rokde, 2026. "Does Circular Economy Effect the Valuation of the Indian Automobile Firms?," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-19, April.
    15. Shteryo Nozharov, 2023. "Social costs of circular economy in European Union," Post-Print hal-04307150, HAL.
    16. Guan, Weili & Li, Yuming & Liu, Jun & Ullah, Sana & Metawa, Noura, 2024. "How does digital government affect natural resource sustainability? A global perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    17. J. Rincón-Moreno & M. Ormazábal & C. Jaca, 2022. "Stakeholder Perspectives in Transitioning to a Local Circular Economy: a Case Study in Spain," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 693-711, June.
    18. Luo, Anran & Rodríguez, Fabricio & Leipold, Sina, 2020. "Explaining the political gridlock behind international Circular Economy: Chinese and European perspectives on the Waste Ban," SocArXiv uyw5g, Center for Open Science.
    19. Asep Marfu & Agung Purwanto & Dwi Atmanto & Nadiroh Nadiroh & Hafid Abbas & Muhammad Zid & Munawar Asikin, 2026. "Enhancing Circular Economy Practices Through Environmental Knowledge: Impacts on Resource Efficiency, Sharing Economy, and Performance-based Contracts in Corporate Sustainability," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-24, April.
    20. Shobande, Olatunji A. & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Ogbeifun, Lawrence & Trabelsi, Nader, 2024. "Demystifying circular economy and inclusive green growth for promoting energy transition and carbon neutrality in Europe," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 666-681.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2020:i:1:p:258-:d:470342. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.